Errr..... I'm not in front of a working PC running the EPG collector at the moment. I think you will have a file called Freeview MHEG.ini. That's the file to edit.

Now the output is in xmltv format. I don't think you can import that directly into Media Centre - never used that. I think there is another step using another app.... Read through this thread to find out.

As for whether Media Centre is the best program for Tv..... That's a whole new thread!

All I will say is that I use MediaPortal (through thick and quite a bit of thin). If you aren't into fiddling with installs etc. then Media Centre is probably the best thing.

EDIT: Couldn't resist reading back up the thread.... Someone mentions this as a tool to convert the file into something for Media Centre.... This tool was mentioned on reven's forums often. http://code.google.com/p/xmltv2mxf/

There's also talk of a thing called Big Screen EPG.

Do bear in mind that I might not know what I'm talking about wrt Media Centre.

steve181: Here is a file for CHCH. If you run EPGCollector.exe without specifing the INI file you must name your default INI file 'EPG Collector.ini' (yes that is a space) and save it in the same directory as the executable.

You can then run the EPGCollector and it will produce an XMLTV compliant output file in the same directory as the executable (specified by the 'output:' parameter. This can be changed to put it anywhere you like.

------------Cut from here -----------------------

# Parameter lines all start with a name terminated by the ':' character followed by parameter values terminated by a comma except the last. # Unrecognised parameter lines are silently ignored. # Delete or comment out the lines you don't need. # The Satellite parameter (if present) must come before the frequency parameters. # The Frequency parameters must come before the Station parameters. # NOTE - THERE ARE DIFFERENT PARAMETER LAYOUTS FOR THE FREQUENCY PARAMETERS FOR SATELLITE AND TERRESTRIAL. DELETE OR COMMENT OUT THE ONES NOT NEEDED.

# Output - specifies the path of the output file. Default is XMLTV.xml in the executable directory.

Output:tvguide.xml

# Tuner - specifies number of tuner to use. Only needed if more than one tuner. Default is to use first available. # Run utility with command line /tuners to get list of tuners and numbers.

I've just switched over to using this last night, and it may be causing a problem with GBPVR.

I've got an HVR-2200. The only modifications I made to the ini file was to change the frequencies to those appropriate for Wellington. The collector runs fine, and generates an XML file.

In GBPVR, I've removed the two tuner entries for the HVR-2200 card, and created two new ones. I've done this because it's the easiest way to clear out the old EPG data and tuning information. (regrettably, it also removes your favourites/series-link/recurring recordings. Grrrr.)

Now, when GBPVR does a channel scan using tuner 1, I get the proper list of DVB-T channels. However, when I perform the same scan using tuner 2, it says no channels were found and to check my set up.

Has anyone found a similar problem? I'm wondering if the EPGCollector is taking control of the tuner and somehow not releasing it back for use by GBPVR afterwards, but it seems odd that tuner 1 gets the channel information and tuner 2 does not.

Yes, i can confirm that the grabber does take control of a tuner but only for the time that it is collecting. I have set it via scheduled tasks to collect at 3am. Im not usually recording anything at that time.

I am about to install a dvb-s card which I also want the grabber to use alongside my pvr2200

Im thinking that I may need to run the grabber twice? The first tme to get listing from freeview and the second time with a tuner selection switch to use the dvb-s card? Or is the grabber intelligent to realise that the pvr is a dvb-t card and the satellite frequencies refer to teh dvb-s card?

Excuse my ignorance here. So I open the EPG Collector notepad file in the EPG collector folder & change the frequencies as instructed by you, after saving the modified notepad file do I then run the EPG app again?

After reading a bit of that link you posted is Windows Media Centre the best programme to run the tv in? Would Dvbviewer be better software to watch TV on for example?

Thanks

I have just built a Windows 7 Media centre (64 bit) and it works brilliantly. I have played with Media Portal when I had a MCE 2005 machine but found that it was a bit tricky to set up. say what you like about MS but IMHO it just works and I dont have to tweak. - Oh and my wife loves it - very important!!!

Just a little off topic - I tried the same. However, unfortunate sods like me with the Hauppauge Nova-TD 500 will be out of luck. W7 (more specifally - Media Foundation)and this card have issues which cause pixelation (see Hauppauge website forums).

giggles: BUZZY: It does 'take control of the tuner' but only during the time it is collecting data. Once it has finished running (check in Task Manager) it no longer uses the tuner card.

Also, if you havent changed the 'Tuner:' parameter in the INI file it will default to using the 1st Tuner - which you have inidicated isn't the issue. PM me the logfile output is you like....

Thanks for the responses Giggles and SJB. I thought that would be the case, so it's probably just coincidental.

Time for a driver reinstall and reconfiguration effort in GBPVR I reckon. Will report results later, just in case anyone else has the same issue.

Incidentally, while there's some good documentation scattered around on this thread, it was some effort to get things like the frequencies and other options sorted out. I'd be happy to volunteer some time to write a how-to and provide common example configurations, if that'd be helpful. Perhaps the SourceForge documentation tab, or inside the download package would be good? Just a thought :)

You will also need to chnage the "Tuner:" parameter, otherwise it will simply use the first one found all the time.

Is there any difference in the freeview guide info available via DVB-T over DVB-S? eg does DVB-T have HD flags? Does either have more complete info? I have never studied it but if it is essentially the same you may as well grab all the channels from the Sat.

You will also need to chnage the "Tuner:" parameter, otherwise it will simply use the first one found all the time.

Is there any difference in the freeview guide info available via DVB-T over DVB-S? eg does DVB-T have HD flags? Does either have more complete info? I have never studied it but if it is essentially the same you may as well grab all the channels from the Sat.

There is no difference but I think he may be getting the Freeview guide from terrestrial and the 'other' broadcasters guide (whose name we may not mention) from satellite.